An Illuminated Life

Belle da Costa Greene's Journey from Prejudice to Privilege

By: Heidi Ardizzone

Narrated by: Robin Miles

The secret life of the sensational woman behind the Morgan masterpieces, who lit up New York society.

What would you give up to achieve your dream? When J. P. Morgan hired Belle da Costa Greene in 1905 to organize his rare book and manuscript collection, she had only her personality and a few years of experience to recommend her. Ten years later, she had shaped the famous Pierpont Morgan Library collection and was a proto-celebrity in New York and the art world, renowned for her self-made expertise, her acerbic wit, and her flirtatious relationships. Born to a family of free people of color, Greene changed her name and invented a Portuguese grandmother to enter White society. In her new world, she dined both at the tables of the highest society and with bohemian artists and activists. She also engaged in a decades-long affair with art critic Bernard Berenson. Greene is pure fascination - the buyer of illuminated manuscripts who attracted others to her like moths to a flame.

©2022 Heidi Ardizzone (P)2022 Random House Audio

Interesting story!

The book was so interesting, and I enjoyed the time period it covered very much. I wish there was more detail about her actual work at the library, how she would have gone about her days; and less about her extracurricular activities. But overall an interesting story about a fascinating woman. 

A Remarkable Woman

I’ve been aware of Belle da Costa Green for a while but this is the first biography that I’ve read. I think it’s the only modern biography in existence and for that reason, it is an important work. With that being said, it does begin to drag about half way through. The daily minutiae is perhaps a bit too detailed. The cast of characters in her life is expansive and at times, hard to follow and remember who’s who. Overall however, this biography is a remarkable feat given that Green destroyed all her personal papers. It is fortunate that her long time lover and friend, Bernard Berenson, did not do the same, otherwise we would know very little about this remarkable woman. As it stands, the Morgan Library provides little information about Belle, which is a shame given her impact on the institution. I believe they intend to launch an exhibit sometime soon about her relationship with Berenson and they are working to fully digitize all of her letters to him with the help of Harvard University, who owns Berenson’s Florentine villa. Belle occasionally pops up in the Library’s blog and I hope that they will consider a more permanent on site exhibit highlighting the magnanimity of her contributions. Until then, this biography is the only comprehensive look at her life and well worth reading, even when it gets a bit slow.